Expert: PAPAJACK - 10/3/2008

Question
I have a box of coins I got from my mother some time ago and my wife and I were looking through them and came acors a wheat penny that has only 194... there was no printing no indentation nothing indicating a 4th number and the coin itself is in very good condition. how can I find the value of this?? Who could look at this


Answer


Hello Rob,                         

I think this is a filled die type error.  Whether it was filled with grease or debris from the manufacturing process does not matter.

Missing letters and weak strikes are usually caused by a filled die error.
Grease and debris commonly get caught in the recesses of the dies as they produce coins. When the dies close on the coin blank the portion of the die filled with this grease or debris won’t let the metal flow into it.

The digits in the date are so small and not deeply recessed into the die that they easily become filled and therefore do not strike properly.
Sometimes more than one digit are missing from the date or lettering.
They would have no premium value to collectors since they are not fully struck! Someone may pay for it as a novelty but it would be less than a dollar.

The defect although very common rarely repeats the misprint in exactly the same way on the next coin struck with the same die set. It is a random occurrence and happens in every mint coin run. The coins are not considered more valuable than any other since it is a random defect.

The price you may get for them over the face value depends on what an error collector may pay for the particular coin. It usually has very little added value Less than a dollar and only an interested Error-collector would seek it out.

Good Question!

If you still want a dealer to look at the piece for you just write and  give me the nearest large Cities, some postal zip codes and telephone area codes I will refer you to an expert in your area.

Thank You and Good Luck,

PapaJack